Terim apologises for Galatasaray´s ´terrible´ loss

Galatasaray head coach Fatih Terim has apologised to the club’s fans for what he described as a ‘terrible’ 6-1 loss to Real Madrid.

The La Liga giants ran riot in their UEFA Champions League opener on Tuesday, scoring five times in a devastating second half at the Turk Telekom Arena in Istanbul.

Cristiano Ronaldo scored a hat-trick to go with a Karim Benzema brace and Isco’s 33rd-minute opener.

Terim said his players gave up after Benzema put the visitors 2-0 up nine minutes into the second half.

“There is not much to say after a defeat like that but we lost the game in a terrible way,” Terim said.

“Madrid didn’t have a chance in the first half, whereas we had three or four. We suddenly conceded goals without any apparent reason.

“We started the second half well but following a dreadful mistake the score became 2-0.

“After that my players gave up the game because both physically and in terms of morale you can’t fight against the situation.”

Terim admitted the result ‘could have been worse’ for Galatasaray, who are also struggling in the Turkish Super Lig and sit seventh after four games.

“It’s such a shame,” the 60-year-old Turkish coach said.

“Sometimes it only takes little mistakes against an established team who are slightly better than you.

“At this level, there is no room for sympathy. I apologise to the Galatasaray fans, all blame is on me. The first goal we conceded was the turning point in the match.”